Governors' Symposium

Anglican EdComm recognises the important role that governance plays in shaping and directing the future of Anglican Schools. To support school governors Anglican EdComm hosts an annual evening directed at policy makers within each school community. It is important that we engage with the various issues that confront school governance in a mature and informed manner with a view to sharing God’s love with all concerned and framing appropriate policies and procedures for our respective schools. Anglican EdComm aims to address the issues by inviting keynote speakers and practitioners to address topics pertinent to the time.

The next Governors' Symposium will be held in 2018.

Previous Events:

2017 - "Secular" Australia: Its Implications for Religious Freedom

The purpose of the evening is to promote informed conversations among the leaders and governors of Anglican schools on the issue of secularisation and its effects on education. EdComm recognises that in current public discourse this is a hotly contested subject particularly as it relates to the freedom for faith-based organisations within our culture. The ongoing nature of this debate will have implications for teachers and parents but this particular event will focus on the topic as it relates to governance and leadership in our schools.

We have invited Right Reverend Michael Stead (Anglican Bishop of South Sydney) to enlighten us on the issue and to open a discussion on secularisation as it pertains to the operation of faith-based schools. He can bring to bear his extensive experience in school governance alongside his work on this area, and others, in the life of the Diocese. Bishop Michael Stead will explore what kind of secular country Australia has been, what it could be and should be and what implications this could have for freedom of religion.

About the Speaker

Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Stead

Anglican Bishop of South Sydney

Bishop Michael Stead holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales, is an honours graduate of Moore College with a Bachelor of Divinity and a Diploma of Ministry, and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Gloucestershire in 2007. He is a part-time lecturer in Old Testament at Moore Theological College.

Dr Stead has extensive experience in church affairs nationally and internationally. He is a member of the General Synod Standing Committee and has been the Secretary of the General Synod Doctrine Commission for the past decade. Internationally, he is an active supporter of the Global Anglican Future Conference or GAFCON and played a key part in the operations team that coordinated GAFCON 2013, as well as being a member of the writing group that produced the Nairobi Communique.

He is married to Felicity, and the couple have three teenage children. Bishop Stead was previously rector of St James Turramurra. He was consecrated Bishop of South Sydney at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney on 5th December, 2015. Dr Stead’s research interests include Biblical Theology, the Atonement, Hermeneutics and Eschatology. He has written four books and a host of articles.

2016 - School Governance and Gender Fludity

Some high profile transgender cases in the USA and in Britain have brought ‘trans’ issues to public attention. Unfortunately we have not yet articulated an overarching framework within which to think about gender fluidity, and that’s as true for society at large as it is for Christians.

As leaders and governors of Anglican schools, it is important that we engage with the issues in a mature and informed manner with a view to sharing God’s love with all concerned and framing appropriate policies and procedures for our respective schools. This is what we hope to achieve at this special evening.

About the Speakers

Mr David Ford

Emil Ford Lawyers - Partner

David heads the Business Law team at Emil Ford and practises extensively for organisations in the not-for-profit sector. He is known for his expertise in education law. He acts for many independent schools and other educational institutions. He consults to the boards of schools and charities on governance issues and regularly presents seminars to school teachers and administrators on education law issues. David has presented at conferences in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Belgium, the Czech Republic, New Zealand and throughout Australia, and published numerous papers on topics as varied as student rights, teachers' liability, teachers/counsellors and confidentiality, bullying, outdoor education, discrimination, LGBTI students, child protection and investigations.

Very Rev Kanishka Raffel

Anglican Dean of Sydney and Chairman of St. Andrew's Cathedral School

Kanishka was born in London to Sri Lankan parents and was raised as a Buddhist. While studying law at Sydney University a friend gave him a copy of The Gospel according to John and he subsequently became a Christian. Prior to becoming Dean in 2016, Kanishka served as Rector of St Matthew’s in Perth. He is married to Cailey and they have two daughters. He loves curry, cricket and having gelato at the beach with his family but knows no pleasure so great as sharing the news about Jesus with people who have no idea who Jesus is or how much he loves them.

Mrs Maryanne Davis

Danebank School - Principal

Maryanne leads the staff, students and school community at Danebank, an Anglican girl's school, that was founded in 1933. Danebank has a current enrolment of about 950 students. Under Maryanne’s leadership, Danebank continues to provided the very best of traditional and innovative teaching and learning.